Princes and Poisoners: Studies of the Court of Louis XIV

erviceable to our investigation. The sources are divided into three well-marked categories-(1) The reports of the physicians and surgeons; (2) the accounts of the persons who

s to us five reports of th

teen physicians and surgeons, French and

adame, by the Abbé Bourdelot, physician. Bourdelot was

e of the most eminent physicians of his time. He was present among the French doctors a

gland who was present at the Opening of the B

dingly useful for checking the official report and the report of the French physicians. Some writers have believed that Louis XIV, fearing a rupture with Eng

tte of July 5, 1670, which was officially inspired by the Court physicians, and the opinion of the fa

charming Countess de la Fayette, The History of Madame Henrietta of England, first wife of Philip of France, Duke of Orleans. The Countess de la Fayette was attached to the suite

et, who was present at the final scene, and the story of Feuille

serve on the writers, and even dictated their sentiments. There are first of all the letters of Louis XIV and Hugues de Lionne to Charles II and to Colbert de Croissy, ambassador at London; then, the despatches of Louis and of Hugues de Lionne to M

k of Monsieur de Boislisle is particularly interesting in showing that these two famous narratives had a common source. As to the testimony of d'Argenson, Voltaire, and others, destitute, in the nature of the case, of any authority comparable to that of the authors we have mentioned above-it is unnecessary in the points where it confirms the others; on the points where it contradicts them, it cannot prevail; an